Most empty-calorie foods are highly processed foods that contain added fat and sugar but with little if any to no nutrient value. These empty-calorie foods include most of the long shelf life foods and drinks sold in vending machines. Alcoholic drinks such as beers, wines and spirits also contain high numbers of empty calories.

Although these foods may be considered convenient, readily available and perhaps cheaper than nutrient-dense counterparts, overconsumption is very damaging to health. The main issue lies in the overconsumption. If too much energy is consumed but is not used up during day to day activities or exercise, the extra calories are stored in the body as fat and over time, result in weight gain.

Reading nutrition facts labels on the products purchased, particularly processed foods, can help in the identification of added sugars. These include:

white granulated sugar
sugar
sucrose
raw sugar
pancake syrup
maltose
invert sugar
high-fructose corn syrup
confectioner’s powdered sugar
brown sugar
anhydrous dextrose

Solid fats contain saturated fats and/or trans fats. These unhealthy fats raise bad (LDL) cholesterol levels in the blood, leading to increased risk for heart disease. The consumption of foods which contain solid fats are: saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol. It is important to note that solid fats can be found in natrual foods but can be over added when processed.

The list of solid fats includes:

Pork fat or lard
Chicken fat
Butter

Stick margarine
Shortening
Cream

Milk fat
Partially and hydrogenated oils
Palm and kernel oils
Coconut oil

<h2>Please note that</h2><h2>Palm, kernel and coconut and hydrogenated oils are considered to be solid fats because they are high in the unhealthy saturated or trans fatty acids.</h2><h2 /><h2 />

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3 years ago

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